Sponsored Links

SEAT Leon Cupra review

Breathtaking pace and everyday practicality make the SEAT Leon Cupra a formidable, if low-key, hot hatch

For:

Rabid pace, sharp styling, clever differential

Against:

Looks too similar to standard car, badge appeal, slight torque steer

We named the SEAT Leon as our 2013 Car of the Year so fitting it with a more powerful engine and sportier chassis sounded like a winning recipe, and it is. Available with either 261bhp or 276bhp, the SEAT Leon Cupra punches above its price tag and comes with equipment you have to pay extra for on the Volkswagen Golf GTI. But it’s not all about searing pace and sharp looks, the SEAT Leon Cupra also has a softer side for when you want to take things easy.

Peel back the skin of the SEAT Leon Cupra and most of what you’ll find is identical to the Volkswagen Golf GTI. Both cars sit on Volkswagen's lightweight MQB architecture, both use a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and both send power through the front wheels. But while the Golf is available with either 217bhp or 227bhp with the Performance Pack fitted, the Leon Cupra packs a massive 261bhp or 276bhp under its bonnet.

Despite only costing a fraction more than the Golf, model for model, the SEAT Leon Cupra comes with a front limited slip differential as standard and three-stage adaptive dampers. You can choose between a five-door or a shorter-wheelbase three-door model, too. Lowered suspension and variable-ratio steering ensure its quick in the corners, but soften off the suspension and the Cupra is happy to waft around like a standard Leon.

Our choice: SEAT Leon Cupra 280

Styling

4.5

The SEAT Leon uses the Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform, so it shares its running gear with the Volkswagen Golf, Audi A3 and Skoda Octavia. However, it’s arguable that the SEAT Leon is better looking, especially in three-door SC guise.

The standard SEAT Leon has a sharp nose, well defined creases in the bodywork and a tidy rear - all of which give it a sporty appearance - while the flagship SEAT Leon Cupra model gets a few more enhancements. The biggest change is the addition of large 19-inch polished alloys on Cupra 280 models (lower-spec Cupra 265 cars make do with silver 18-inch rims) and bright red brake calipers.

The bright LED headlights found on the SEAT Leon Cupra are standard and there’s a subtle chequered flag badge on the grille, while larger air intakes and gloss black trim have been added behind the number plate. SEAT also gives the Leon Cupra a bigger roof spoiler, twin oval exhausts at the back and Cupra lettering across the tailgate, but the reality is that only diehard hot hatch fans will be able to recognise a Cupra model over a lower-spec Leon FR.

SEAT offers Dynamic Grey paint as a £695 option on the Leon Cupra, but it doesn’t really help it to stand out any better. SEAT has updated the interior of the Leon Cupra with new Alcantara-trimmed sports seats, LED interior lighting, Cupra logos around the cabin, and an upgraded infotainment system with sat-nav. The Cupra 280 model adds gloss black trim, while the excellent build quality and logical dash layout mean the SEAT Leon is very easy to get on with.

Elsewhere inside, there’s little separating the Cupra model from the rest of the Leon range. A fat and flat-bottomed steering wheel along with a smattering of Cupra logos give it a slight visual edge, while build quality and design remain a strong point.

Driving

4.3

The SEAT Leon Cupra is powered by the Volkswagen Group’s 2.0-litre TSI turbo petrol engine, although its power has been turned up to a healthy 276bhp, making the Leon Cupra one of the most potent hot hatchbacks on the road. Previously, that would have plagued the front-wheel-drive SEAT Leon with masses of torque steer, but the addition of a limited-slip diff and SEAT’s clever XDS electronics mean it’s hugely capable in corners.

Turn in at high speed, and the SEAT Leon Cupra simply tucks its nose into the bend and sticks to its line, as the electronically controlled diff suppresses understeer by sending power to the wheel with more grip. Thankfully, there’s plenty of that from the wide tyres, while the sharp steering means the chassis responds to the slightest of inputs.

Unlike lower-spec cars in the SEAT Leon range, you can fully disengage the stability control on the Cupra, which allows you to explore the limits of its ability on the track. Still, you’ll be travelling at quite a rate before it breaks loose.

A slower 261bhp version of the Cupra is also available. It’s down on power over its stalemate by just 15bhp, adding a barely noticeable 0.1 seconds – now 5.9 seconds – to the 0-62mph sprint fitted with the same six-speed manual gearbox. On the plus side, you’ll save £1,550 over the equivalent Cupra 280 but you do miss out on larger 19-inch alloy wheels, red brake calipers, sat nav and eye-catching black exterior detailing as standard.

In the real world you’d struggle to notice the fractional decline in performance as although marginally down on power, all 350Nm of torque are still on offer in the 261bhp model. Power delivery is unrelenting throughout the rev range and the limited-slip differential fitted as standard – unlike the VW Golf GTI – ensures maximum traction when tackling a corner and slingshots you out at the other end.

To show off the Cupra's immense performance, SEAT set a new Nurburgring front-wheel drive lap record of 7 minutes 58 seconds (although Renault has since stolen it back with the Megane RS 275 Trophy-R). That car was fitted with a Performance Pack, which is now available to customers. It adds bigger Brembo brakes, semi-slick Michelin tyres, lightweight 19-inch wheels and chunkier side sills. For customers that plan on attending track days regularly, the Performance Pack is a must.

Reliability

4.1

It’s the flagship of the Leon line-up, but the Cupra essentially uses the same running gear as the rest of the range. That means it has the same five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating as cheaper models, while LED headlights, the intelligent diff and more powerful brakes help it to feel even more secure on the road.

In 2014, SEAT dealers came bottom in our Driver Power satisfaction survey for the second year in a row, with owners criticising the brand’s customer service across the board. It’s not all bad news, though, because while the Leon itself didn’t figure in our ratings, the mechanically similar Audi A3 and Volkswagen Golf bagged top-20 finishes.

Practicality

3.9

The practicality of your SEAT Leon Cupra depends on which model you go for. The three-door Leon SC model has a wheelbase that's 52mm shorter than the five-door Cupra, which chops down rear legroom slightly, and the more sloping roof also means there’s a few mm less headroom. However, SEAT has managed to maintain the exact same boot space for both models but at 380-litres, although that’s still 25-litres down on the Renault Megane.

Fold down the rear seats in the SEAT Leon Cupra and its boot space increases to a substantial 1,210-litres - however, a step in the floor of every SEAT Leon stops you sliding heavy objects all the way in. Nevertheless, hooks for your shopping bags and a lower load lip are useful additions.

It’s clear that the SEAT Leon has been designed from the outset not only to look good, but to be used as a family car. Wide door openings, enough rear head and leg room for adults – even in the SC – and spacious front seats make it perfect for long journeys. There are plenty of cubby holes dotted around, too, in the centre console, glove box and door bins.

Running Costs

3.5

Even though the Cupra is the flagship of the Leon line, it still uses the same running gear as the rest of the Leon range, albeit in upgraded form. Fortunately, this also means the SEAT Leon Cupra has the same five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating. What's more, LED headlights, a clever diff and an enhanced stability control system help it feel even more secure on the road.

SEAT dealers came bottom in our Driver Power 2013 satisfaction survey, so you may not receive the best service from them if you do decide to take the plunge with the Cupra. However, in light of these results, the brand is likely to make changes that will help to improve the customer experience.

Disqus - noscript

Submitted by k on Thu, 2014-03-13 11:31.

the best and fastest car (on track) is the megane rs.

Submitted by Hatcher on Thu, 2014-03-13 13:10.

"Rabid" pace or "Rapid" pace?

Submitted by I P Freely on Thu, 2014-03-13 14:48.

So how comes it couldn't get around the Nurburgring as fast as a Leon Cupra?

Submitted by WesternYeoman on Thu, 2014-03-13 15:07.

There's only one way to find out... That's give it to the tamed racing driver called "The Stig".

Submitted by Daniel James Collins on Thu, 2014-03-13 23:57.

I really like the look of the new Leon and the cupra model, but the major thing that is holding me back from considering one is seat's low place in the driver satisfaction survey, the lack of dealers and the rather pathetic 3 year warranty. The VAG group really need to get with the times and offer more than the pathetic 3 years/ 60,000 mile warranties that for me show they are not confident in their own products reliability.

Submitted by Saundo on Fri, 2014-03-14 12:47.

Because the cupra used had upgraded wheels, tyres and brakes that you can't buy the car with and the aircon had been removed, i.e. seat cheated

Submitted by Michael Simpkins on Fri, 2014-03-14 22:25.

Evo 10

Submitted by PoshPete on Fri, 2014-03-14 22:43.

Radical SR8

Submitted by Brian on Sun, 2014-03-16 13:16.

You can buy it with the car actually!

Submitted by Saundo on Mon, 2014-03-17 09:17.

You cannot by the leon cupra from seat with the brembo calipers used to beat the record, nor the wheels they used (which were actually from the old cupra) that are needed to clear the brembo calipers and nor can you spec the removal of the aircon and neither do they come with the pilot sport cup 2 tyres used to beat the record. If you can then prove it, please.